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Soaring Eagle Academy

EIN 20-2286699 · Lombard, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE AN ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THAT SUPPORTS THEIR INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND LEARNING STYLES AND INTEGRATES LEARNING AND INTERACTION WITHIN DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE MODELS AND DEVELOPMENTAL INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCE RELATIONSHIP (DIR) BASED APPROACH PRINCIPLES.

Income
$9.0 million
Spending
$9.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
258
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$172,066, principal

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 91% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $8.6 million spent. SOARING EAGLE ACADEMY IS A NOT FOR PROFIT, NON-PUBLIC THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL APPROVED BY THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SERVING STUDENTS AGES 5 THROUGH 22 YEARS OLD, DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AND RELATED DISORDERS OF COMMUNICATING, INTERACTING AND LEARNING, INTEGRATING DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE MODELS WITH DIR PRINCIPLES, WITHIN A SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. SOARING EAGLE SERVICED 100 STUDENTS FROM 53 PLACING SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR 219 SCHOOL DAYS IN 9 CLASSROOMS INCLUDING ONE PRIMARY CLASSROOMS AGES 5 TO 9 YEARS OLD, TWO PRIMARY CLASSROOMS AGES 6 TO 10 YEARS OLD, TWO INTERMEDIATE CLASSROOMS AGES 10 TO 14 YEARS OLD, TWO HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AGES 14 TO 18, AND TWO TRANSITION CLASSROOM AGES 18 TO 22 YEARS OLD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.